Page 87 of Last First Date

It was another reminder of what he was giving up to live in Utah. There was no way he was going to want to stay in our small town.

“Have you been looking for a house?” I asked casually. That would give me an indicator about how serious he was about sticking around in Utah.

“I’ve looked but there isn’t anything I’ve seen that I like.”

“Have you checked outside of town? There are some beautiful new builds. We did a Christmas party for a builder that specializes in high-end custom homes.” I realized I was trying to convince him.

“That sounds interesting. Maybe I should take a look.” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass as he pondered my suggestion. It wasn’t exactly a convincing comment.

“If you need help setting up appointments, just let me know.”

He nodded, a faraway look in his eyes. The jazz slowly danced around us.

“Utah isn’t so bad, you know,” I found myself saying, breaking the silence between us.

“I’m starting to find some qualities I like about it,” he said, smiling.

36

KNOX

The flagship store buzzed with excitement as Waverly and I worked tirelessly to set up the product launch. The anticipation in the air was palpable. Extra staff had been called in to set up tables and assist with the onslaught of customers we were expecting.

My team had done an advertising blitz to get the word out. Today was the official opening with the new spring line, and in a couple of days, there would be a party with some paid celebrities and those that wanted to come just to be a part of the party.

The sleek, modern space was draped in spring colors to promote the line. Waverly moved with a grace and confidence I hadn’t seen before. She was in her element. She was attending to every detail. The best part, she wasn’t even a little stressed. I noticed the more experienced planners we brought in from the New York office were deferring to her.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation we had brought to the store. It was Waverly’s vision. She had worked with the design team at the lingerie company to make their plain plans into something spectacular.

She was making me look good.

“This looks incredible, Waverly,” I remarked as I looked around the area. “I am truly impressed.”

“You didn’t think I could do it?”

“No, that’s not true. I just didn’t realize it would be this good.”

She flashed a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

As the day unfolded, the store came alive with eager customers. The registers chimed with a frequency that signaled success. Waverly and I stayed out of the way but were on standby in case the staff needed us. When I noticed an empty display, I quietly informed one of the staff. Yes, the store was being ravaged, but we wanted it to look like it was just another day.

A mix of pride and nostalgia washed over me as I watched customers gleefully picking through panties and sexy bras.

Waverly approached and handed me a coffee, reminding me that, although I relied on her to plan this thing, she was still working as my assistant. “Can you believe this, Knox? It’s beyond anything we imagined. I was just talking to the sales director. She said they are on track to blow out their sales record.”

I nodded, a genuine sense of accomplishment settling within me. “It’s incredible, Waverly. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in all of this.”

Her expression softened, a warmth in her gaze. “Likewise, Knox. We make a great team, don’t we?”

“We do.”

As the day drew to a close and the last customer exited the store, a bittersweet realization settled over me. We had one more event before we had to return home. The success had cast a positive light over our time in New York, but I couldn’t shake the nagging question about what awaited us when we returned.

The dynamics between Waverly and me had shifted. The connection we developed in New York had evolved beyond the confines of a professional partnership. I didn’t know what I was feeling, but it was a warm and fuzzy feeling.

We stood off to the side, surveying the aftermath of the launch. It looked like a tornado swept through.

“One more event, Knox. Can you believe it?”